Display system and method

• US 20060274031A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lau Chan Yuen
• Original Assignee: Lau Chan Yuen
• Inventors: Yuen, Lau Chan, Chung, Chi Ming Tony
• Granted Patent: US 7,605,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact

Abstract

A display system is disclosed as including first and second visual display units (VDU'"'"'s), each for displaying visual images for viewing; a first digital video camera for capturing images of a first individual viewing images displayed by the first VDU; at least second and third digital video cameras for capturing, each from a different angle, images of a second individual viewing the second VDU; in which the first digital video camera is connectable with the second VDU for transmitting the captured images to the second VDU for display; and the first VDU is connectable with either of the second and third digital video cameras for display of images captured by either of the second and third digital video cameras; means for identifying the position of the centre point between the eyes of the captured images of the first individual against a capture window of the first digital video camera; and means for selectively connecting the first VDU with the second digital video camera or the third digital video camera in accordance with the identified position of the centre point between the eyes of the first individual. A visual display apparatus is also disclosed as including a visual display unit supported by a table, the table including a closable opening; a reflector movable relative to the table between a first position in which the reflector closes the opening and a second position in which the opening is open and images displayed by the visual display unit are reflectable by the reflector for viewing; and an end of the reflector is slidably and swivellably movable relative to the table for movement between the first and second positions.

Claims

1. A display system including:

at least first and second visual display means (VDM'"'"'s), each being adapted to display at least one visual image for viewing;

at least a first image capturing device adapted to capture at least one image of a first individual viewing said first VDM;

at least second and third image capturing devices each adapted to capture, each from a different angle, at least one image of a second individual viewing said second VDM;

wherein said first image capturing device is connectable with said second VDM for transmitting said captured image to said second VDM for display;

wherein said first VDM is connectable with either of said second and third image capturing devices for display of said image captured by either of said second and third image capturing devices;

means for identifying the position of a reference point of the captured image of said first individual against a pre-determined reference background; and

means for selectively connecting said first VDM with said second image capturing device or said third image capturing device in accordance with the position of said reference point of said first individual as identified by said identifying means.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said image capturing devices are digital cameras.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said image capturing devices are digital video cameras.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said reference point is the centre point between the eyes of said first individual.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said pre-determined reference background is an image capture window of said first image capturing device.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said first VDM includes a visual display unit (VDU) and a reflector adapted to reflect said image displayed by said VDU for viewing by said first individual.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said reflector is semi-transparent.

8. A system according to claim 6 wherein said first image capturing device is engaged with said reflector.

9. A system according to claim 6 wherein said reflector is movable relative to said VDU.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said reflector is movable between a first position in which said reflector substantially closes a container housing said VDU and a second position in which said reflector is inclined relative to a screen of said VDU.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said second VDM comprises a plurality of visual display units (VDU'"'"'s).

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of VDU'"'"'s is adapted to display images captured by a respective image capturing device.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of VDU'"'"'s are adapted to collectively display images captured by said first image capturing device.

14. A system according to claim 11 wherein a plurality of image capturing devices are distributed amongst said plurality of VDU'"'"'s, each said image capturing device being adapted to capture images of said second individual from a different angle.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein said plurality of image capturing devices are evenly distributed amongst said plurality of VDU'"'"'s.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein when said plurality of VDU'"'"'s of said VDM collectively display images captured by said first image capturing device, the image capturing device associated with the VDU of the VDM which is closest to the reference point of the first individual as collectively displayed by said VDM is connected with said first VDM.

17. A system according to claim 11 further including means for selecting one of said VDU'"'"'s as an active VDU.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein images displayed by said active VDU are of a higher quality that the images displayed by the remaining VDU'"'"'s.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the images displayed by said active VDU are in colours, and the images displayed by the remaining VDU'"'"'s are in black and white.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein said first VDM includes at least a 3G mobile phone connected with a VDU.

21. A system according to claim 1 wherein said second VDM includes at least a 3G mobile phone connected with a VDU.

22. A display method, including the steps of:

(a) capturing at least one image of a first individual;

(b) displaying the captured image of said first individual to a second individual;

(c) capturing images of said second individual from at least a first angle and a second angle which are different from each other;

(d) identifying the position of a reference point of the captured image of said first individual against a pre-determined reference background; and

(e) selectively displaying the image captured from said first angle or from said second angle, in accordance with the identified position of said reference point of said first individual.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein said steps (a) and (c) are carried out by image capturing devices

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said image capturing devices are digital cameras.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein said image capturing devices are digital video cameras.

26. A method according to claim 22 wherein said reference point is the centre point between the eyes of said first individual.

27. A method according to claim 22 wherein said pre-determined reference background is an image capture window of said first image capturing device.

28. A method according to claim 22 wherein said step (e) is carried out by a first VDM.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein said first VDM includes a visual display unit (VDU) and a reflector adapted to reflect images displayed by said VDU for viewing by said first individual.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein said reflector is semi-transparent.

31. A method according to claim 22 wherein said step (b) is carried out by a second VDM.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein said second VDM comprises a plurality of visual display units (VDU'"'"'s).

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of VDU'"'"'s displays images captured by a respective image capturing device.

34. A method according to claim 32 wherein said plurality of VDU'"'"'s collectively display the captured image of said first individual.

35. A method according to claim 32 including a step (f) of distributing a plurality of image capturing devices amongst said plurality of VDU'"'"'s, each said image capturing device being adapted to capture at least an image of said second individual from a different angle.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of image capturing devices are evenly distributed amongst said plurality of VDU'"'"'s.

37. A method according to claim 35 including a step (g) of connecting said first VDM with the image capturing device associated with the VDU of the second VDM which is closest to the reference point of the first individual as collectively displayed by said second VDM.

38. A method according to claim 32 further including a step (h) of selecting one of said VDU'"'"'s of said second VDM as an active VDU.

39. A method according to claim 38 further including a step (i) of said active VDU displaying images of a higher quality that those displayed by the remaining VDU'"'"'s.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein in said step (i), said active VDU displays images in colours, and the remaining VDU'"'"'s display images in black and white.

41. A method according to claim 22 wherein said first VDM includes at least a 3G mobile phone connected with a VDU.

42. A method according to claim 22 wherein said second VDM includes at least a 3G mobile phone connected with a VDU.

43. A visual display apparatus including:

a visual display unit engaged with a support, said support including a closable opening;

a reflector movable relative to said support between a first position in which said reflector substantially closes said opening and a second position in which said opening is open and images displayed by said visual display unit are reflectable by said reflector for viewing;

wherein a first end of said reflector is slidably and swivellably movable relative to said support for movement between said first and second positions.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said support comprises a table.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44 wherein when said reflector is in said second position, said reflector is inclined relative to a top of said table.

46. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein when in said second position, said reflector is inclined relative to a screen of said visual display unit.

47. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said reflector is semi-transparent.

48. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said first end of said reflector includes a substantially hemispherical member which contacts said support during at least part of the movement of said reflector between said first and second positions.

49. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said support includes a plurality of movable members along which said end of said reflector is movable for movement between said first and second positions.

50. An apparatus according to claim 49 wherein said plurality of movable members comprise a plurality of rotationally movable members.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50 wherein said plurality of rotationally movable members comprise a plurality of rollable bars.

52. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein said rollable bars are substantially parallel to one another.

53. An apparatus according to claim 43 further including an image capturing device.

54. An apparatus according to claim 53 wherein said image capturing device is a digital video camera.

55. An apparatus according to claim 53 wherein said image capturing device is engaged with said reflector for simultaneous movement.

56. An apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said image capturing device is engaged with a second end of said reflector, said second end being opposite to said first end.